Gear-shift indicator



A. RAICH. GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR.

` A AFPLIC-ATION FILED DEC. ll 1921. 1,4274 1 5 Patented Aug. 29, 1922.2 `SHEETS-SHEIII l.

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. RAICH.

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 050.1. 1921.

Patented AIIg. 29, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

FIG. 3.

FIG. 4.

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ANTHONY RAICH, OF KEMMERER, WYOMING.

enne-siiir'r rnnicnron.

isernia.

Application filed" December To ZZ fir/710m it may concern: l

Be it known that l, Arrrrroiir linien, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at li'emmerer, in the county of Lincoln and State ofYilyoming, have invented certain new andjuseful improvements inGear-Shiftlndicators, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements ,in gearshift indicators and has particular reference to the provi-l sion ofvisible indicating means operatively connected with the gear shiftingrods of a motor vehicle change speed or transmission gearing whereby thedriver may see at all times, the position of the gears for avoidingmistakes in driving, particularly useful to those learning to drive.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an indicator of theabove kind of a simple and durable nature so that the same will meetwith the requirement-s for a successful commercial use.

Till ith the above general objects in view and others that willappear-as the nature of the invention. is better understood, the sameconsists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more ful` ly described, shown in the accompanying drawingsand claimed.

In the drawings,wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, e'

Figure l isa substantially central longitudinal sectional view throughthe floor board of a motor vehicle equipped with an indicatorconstructed in accordance with the present invention and with the gearshift lever and transmission mechanism indicated by dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a top plan viewk of the device shown in Fig. l,

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken upon KlineIII-#Hiott Fig. l, i f

Figure 4 is anl enlarged yperspective view of one of the indicatorelements and a portion of the gear shift rod to which it is connected, f

Figure 5n is a view similar to Fig. t of the other indicator element andits rod, f

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 on a smaller scale showing theposition of the indicator elements when the gears are in second speed,and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 With c elements 5 Specification ofLetters atent. Pgrtgntd fug, 29, 1922.

1,1921; vserial no. 519,238.

the indicator elements positioned with the gears in reverse views,vthepresent invention in its preferred embodiment, includes a pair ofindicator the project-ing end of one of the pair of gear shifting rods 6and 7 provided in the usual motor vehicle transmission mechanism 8. Therods Gand 7 are 'adapted for selec` tive operation in the usual mannerby means of a gear shift level' 9 which is usually mounted for universalmovement as at l0 so as to be swung to either of the live positionsrepresented in Fig. 2. In the'standard gear shift, the forward. leftposition of the lever effects yconnection ofthe reverse gear while therearward left position effects conneet-ion of the low speed gear, andthe forward right lposition of the lever effects connection ofthe secondor intermediate speed rgear while the vrearward right position of saidlever effects connection of the high speed gear, the lever being showniny its fifth or neutral position as shown in Fig. 2. When the lever 9is in its neutral position the rodsr f6 and 7 project a similar distancerearwardly through the casing of the transmission in F ig. 3.

ln the preferred embodiment of the invention the indicatorelements 5 and6 are constructed from sheet metal so as to provide an arm ll having alateral indicator plate 1.2 integral'with the rear end thereof andhaving its forward Yportiony fastened in' any suitable manner as at 13to its gear shift rod, the plate portions 12 of the indieater elements5` and 6 being arranged in overlapping relation.4 The plate portion l2of the indicator element is provided with a central opening 14 and hasthe letter H thereon atthe rear'side of said opening and the letter S atthe forward side of said openin'glwhile the plate portion 12 of theindicator element 6 has the letter R thereon normally hidden by theportion of the indicator element y5 having thek letter S thereon. Theplate portion of the indicator element 6 also is provided with a centralletter 0, `or its equivalent, normally visible through the opening 14 ofthe plate of the indicator element 5 when the gears are in neutral, andthe plateportion 12'of the indicator element 6 is provided with theletter L rearwardly of the letter O gearing 8 as shown and G eachrigidly connected to normally hidden by the plate portion of 'theindicator element 5 which has the letter ll thereon and as shown inFigs. l, f2 and The indicator elements are slidably mounted through oneend oit a housing 'l5 which is attached to the underside ot the usualfloor boa-rd 1G ot a motor vehicle, andthis floor board is provided witha slot having al transparent cover plate 1T retained in position by aframe 1S, the slot or opening in the tloor plate lo being arranged sothat the letter O will be seen therethrough when the lever is in neutralposition and the indicator elements are normally dis posed with theletter 0 registering with the opening le.

iis shown in the drawings, the plate portions 12 merely consist inlateral extensions or" the arms 1l bent at right angles to the latterand in this way the construction ot the indicator elements may be hadwith cheapness and durability. A

ln operation, with the parts positioned as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3,the lever and gears are in neutral position with the letter O registeredwith the opening 14 and with the transparent plate 1i so that the drivermay see at a glance that such is the case. -p'on moving the lever 9torwardly and to the lett the gear shift rod 7 will move rearwardlywhile the rod G will remain stationary so that the plates will bedisposed as shown in Fig. T with the letter R eX nosed and therebindicating C( 7? 'J that the gears are in reverse. bnnilarly,

it the lever is moved rearwardly and to the lett the rod 7 will moveforwardly so as to expose the letter L indicating that the gears are inlow speed position and when the lever is moved forwardly and to theright the rod Gv is moved rearwardly while the rod 7 remainsstationary', thus exposing the letter S indicating that the gears are insecond speed position. ln a like man ner, when the lever is movedrearwardly and to the right the rod 6 moves forwardly so as to exposethe letter lr indicating that the gears are in high speed position.

Although the construction ot transmission vmechanism involving the rods6 and 7 and lever 9 is et well known and commonly used torni andalthough the same specilically forms no part ol the present invention,it is noted by way ot explanation that these rods 6 and 7 areoperatively associated with the gearing and with the lever so that thesame may be readily slid longitudinally and by reason thereof thevarious changing ot the gears is had in the manner set forth.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction andoperation ot the present invention will be readily un-` derstood andappreciated by those skilled in the art.

TWhat is claimed as new is l. ln combination with thel horizontalsliding gear shitting bars of a motor vehicle change speed mechanism,means operatively connected to said rods for visibly indicating theposition ot the gears.

2.111 combination with the horizontal sliding gear shitting bars of amotor vehicle change speed mechanism, means operatively connected. tosaid rods tor visibly indicating the position ot the gears, saidindicating means comprising a pair orn indicator elements each rigidlyconnected to and movable with one of said rods.

3. ln combination with the horizontal sliding gear shifting bars of amotor vehicle change speed mechanism, means operatively connectedto saidrods tor visibly indicating the position ot the gears, said indicatingmeans comprising a pair ol indicator elements each rigidly connected toand movable with one oli said rods, said indicator elements includinghorizontal overlapping plates with indicia thereon.

4f. ln vcombination with the horizontal sliding gear shifting bars of amotor hicle change speed mechanism, means operatively connected to saidrods 'for visibly indicating the position ot the gears, said indicatingmeans comprising a pair ot indicator elements each rigidly connected toand movable with one of said rods, said indicator elements includinghorizontal overlapping plates with indicia thereon, and the uppermostplate having` an opening therethrough between its indicia through whichthe indicia ot the lower plate is adapted to be exposed.

5. ln combination with the horizontal sliding gear shitting bars ot amotor vchicle change speed mechanism, means oper-- atively connected tosaid rods for visibly indicating the position ot the gears, saidindicating means comprising indicator clemcnts connected to and movablewith said rods.

6. ln combination with the gear shitting mechanism of a` motor vehicle,means operatively connected thereto tor visibly indicating the positionot the gears, said means comprising indicator elements connected to andmovable with said gear siitting means.

In testimony whereoic l atlix my vsignature.

ANTHONY RAICH.

